Reports Of Meetings.

U . S . A ., Thomas Mellor I . P . M . 2560 , S . P . Bidder ' P . M . 1774 , J . B . Clark S . W . 24 , F . C . Morgan 1357 , A . Morton , and J . W . Broadhead 1231 , with others too numerous to mention .

BRO . HERBERT A . OWLES

W . M . LODGE OF INTEGRITY , No . 163 . A few decades ago it was generally conceded that one of the largest ironworks in the north of England was that belonging to Messrs . Sharp , Stewart and Co ., Bridgewater Street , Manchester , and it was here , under the aegis of the titular deity Tubal Gain , that Bro . Herbert A . Owles , the subject

of our present sketch , served his apprenticeship . At the period of which we write , trades unionism was becoming a dominant factor in the ethics of the working man , so that the individual must be possessed of more than ordinary temerity who could openly disavow its tenets , some of them arbitrary and exacting ; but Bro . Owles , whose temperament ia of a robust type , found

himself ultimately at variance with a few of the more active leaders and members . Instead , however , of following the device of the ostrich , which buries its head in the sand , Bro . Owles , who possessed power , dash , and energy—not at all influenced or awed by any aggressive whirlwind of

passion , prejudice , or malevolence which might assail him—began to search for some congenial occupation , subsequently entering into an engagement with Messrs . Hoare and Co ., brewers , London , as clerk and traveller , being placed in their Manchester agency .

Bro . Owles is the happy ; possessor of a powerful bass voice , and this he has often utilised by singing at concerts , obtaining upon one occasion , when in Liverpool , the premier prize for male voices in a mixed competition .

This was really the commencement of a short professional career , which culminated in a three years' engagement with the celebrated Carl Rosa Opera Company , where , for some time , he held the dual position of singer and deputy stage manager .

It was at this juncture that sickness prostrated Messrs . Hoare ' s Manchester agent , who , being on friendly terms with Bro . Owles , sent for the latter , and earnestly persuaded him to make an application for the position which he felt he must soon abdicate . Acting upon this recommendation , Bro . Owles put himself into communication with Messrs . Hoare , the result

being that for the second time in his career he was taken into the service of the great London brewers , this time as their representative , and he has retained this appointment for a period of twelve years . Bro . Owles has recently obtained the agency for the well-known firm of Emil Pohl , Maas

and Co ., wme merchants , London , importers of the celebrated " Wachter " champagne , and there is every reason to expect that , being a popular traveller , he will be enabled to show an appreciable augmentation of customers irom and around Cottonopolis .

The subject of our sketch has been a Freemason for a number of years , having been initiated in the Lodge of Integrity , No . 163 , where he has just reached the position of Worshipful Master , as described in our report . He was also a member of the Prince Leopold Lodge , No . 1588 , where , after occuping several important' positions , he retired , so as to take up active duties in connection with the Lodge of Integrity .

Music is one of the especial hobbies of Bro . Owles , and his passion for this art has caused him to identify himself with four choral societies , one being the well-known " Manchester Vocal . " He has taken a prominent part

in the rendition of such popular works as Haydn's " Creation , " under the able baton of Dr . Henry Watson , his magnificent voice often declaiming " And God said , " and other successful numbers , to fashionable and delighted ^ pdiences ,

Reports Of Meetings.

He has been Captain of the West Manchester Cycling Club , and has also had the honour of being elected President of four popular bowling clubs in the neighbourhood of Manchester . Possessed of a powerful physique , which even Milo might not have disdained , it is scarcely matter for wonder that he should take an interest in all those sports which have a tendency to create and maintain health and vigour of body . He is particularly fond of walking and swimming , and has won more than one prize for rowing , being considered an admirable sculler .

The father of Bro . Owles was an old and well-respected Freemason , while he also had other relatives who were members of the Craft , several on the avuncular side having taken Provincial honours in Suffolk . The partner of his joys hails from the canny town of Newcastle-on-Tyne , his family otherwise consisting of a boy and girl , and it may be hoped that they will justify the fond expectations which their parents now form of them .

UNANIMITY LODGE , No . 287 .-THB regular meeting of this good old Lodge , which was very numerousl y attended by Brethren and visitors , was held on Wednesday , 3 rd inst ., Bro . Arthur James Hewett W . M . in the chair . The minutes of the last Lodge meeting were read and confirmed , and after Bros . J . H . Good and W . A . Hall had answered questions leading from the first to the second degree , they retired . The Lodge was then opened in the second degree and Bros . Good and HaU were passed as Fellow Craftsmen , Bro . 0 . D . Cheetham performing one of the ceremonies .

Before the closing of the Lodge a very interesting event took place , in the presentation by tbe Brethren of a centenary jewel to Bro . Charles Derbyshire Cheetham P . M . of the Alexandra Lodge , No . 933 and Prov . J . G . Warden of East Lancashire , who , twelve months ago , became a joining Brother of the Unanimity Lodge . In asking tho W . M . to present the jewel Bro . Past Master Dawson Treasurer and Charity Representative spoke in high terms

of the esteem in which BroJ Cheetham was held , not only in the Lodge of Unanimity , but by every one in Cheshire who had the honour of his acquaintance , while in East Lancashire , the largest Province in the world , Bro . Cheetham's name was held in reverence by all who knew him , he being at the present time the honoured Vice-Chairman of their Charity CounciL Bro . Dawson went on to say Bro . Cheetham was Vice-Patron of the Royal

Masonic Benevolent Institution , owned over 300 votes , and had served as Steward about a dozen times at the Old Folks' Festivals in London ; Life Governor of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ; and coming nearer home he was a Patron-of the East Lancashire Systematic Benevolent Institution , and , to his credit be it said , four members of Bro . Cheetham ' s family had also qualified as Life Governors of the East Lancashire Benevolent Institution .

Bros . T . E . Rigby P . M . and James Cookson P . M . P . P . G . W ., spoke in high terms of the many sterling qualities of Bro . Cheetham . The W . M . Bro . A . J . Hewett in a few well chosen words asked the worthy Brother to accept the Centenary Jewel , as an expression of good will towards him , of the affection of all the Brethren of Unanimity Lodge , and

their appreciation of the services he had rendered to Masonry , both as regarded the work he had done , and for his most generous liberality to the London and local Charities ; he desired personally to thank Bro . Cheetham for his help that night in performing one of the ceremonies at a moment ' s notice , and the manner in which the task was performed in presenting the working tools of the second degree in full was a treat to all present .

Bro . Cheetham , in reply , confessed his great surprise at receiving any present ; he had only been for twelve months a subscribing member , and could not imagine any reason that their kindness should be extended in a practical form . He should very much prize the jewel , and when wearing it be reminded of his obligation to the Brethren of the Unanimity Lodge . He hoped to continue a subscribing member for many years to come , and when

not otherwise occupied , at all times they would be heartily welcome to his humble services . In conclusion he assured the Brethren that , when attending the elections in London , he would render all the aid in his power to their worthy Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . Newhouse , who , during the past year , had been honoured by the M . W . G . M . in having been appointed to the office of Deputy Grand Sword Bearer of England .

ST . JOHN LODGE , No . 328 . AS briefly recorded last week , the members held their annual festival on Monday , 1 st inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Torquay . After the installation of Bro . A . Westley , in presenting a beautiful Past Master ' s jewel to the retiring W . M . Bro . Halls , Bro . Chapman said that his year of office had been marked with such signal success that it was desirable that tbe Secretary should make a summary of the past year ' s work , for entry in the Lodge minutes as a permanent record of the event .

The installation banquet followed at the Bath Saloons , the usual loyal and masonic toasts being duly observed . " ' To that of the Prov . Grand Lodge , submitted from the chair , Bros . Rev . J . Henning , Colonel Chillingworth , J . Chapman , and Colonel Appleton responded , the last-named presenting the W . M . with the original draft of the wording deposited under the foundation stone of tbe Masonic Hall , and duly recorded in Bro . Chapman's History of the Lodge .

The health of the newly-installed W . M . was heartily drunk with musical honours , on the initiative of Bro . Richards , who eulogised Bro . Westley as a man and as a Mason . With pleasure he recalled the fact that he had introduced the W . M . to the lady who was now his wife , and to Freemasonry , and had assisted that day in his installation . The W . M . briefly acknowledged the compliment , conveying his feelings in

the expression that that was the proudest moment of his life . In toasting the Installing Masters , Bro . Rev . J . Henning said that to him the inside of a Mason ' s Lodge was always a sacred place . It was , in fact , a place of worship . On every hand they had symbols that spoke of the great Architect , the Great Geometrician of the Universe , and they had the sacred law by which they were all bound . They would agree with him that

the ritual—and should he not say service—of a Masonic Lodge could be made almost grotesque or very solemn indeed . Any Brother who took office ought to regard it with all reverence and solemnity . It was no light thing to be an officer in a Masonic Lodge , and when a Brother took upon himself an exalted position in a Lodge his responsibility was increased greatly . The brethren who did the work of Installing Masters that day fulfilled what was his ideal of solemnity and reverence and affection . Bro . Grant gave gretvj